Harbaugh acknowledges putting Cundiff in 'tough situation'

In the aftermath of his 1-for-3 day in the Ravens’ 24-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns Sunday, kicker Billy Cundiff expressed some frustration at missing field-goal attempts of 34 and 41 yards in the second quarter.

A brisk left-to-right wind and rain that turned parts of the turf at Cleveland Browns Stadium into mud added to the degree of difficulty on both kicks, and coach John Harbaugh acknowledged during his weekly news conference Monday that Cundiff kicked in less-than-ideal conditions.

“I think the assessment, really, was that it was a tough situation to put him in,” Harbaugh said. “By the same token, Billy expects to make all those kicks. He’s telling me on the plane he needs to make those kicks. Of course, we all agree with that. But it’s tougher sometimes than I think we all realize. We understood putting him out there on the right hash – on that field – was going to be a difficult kick. That was the worst kick. [Cleveland kicker] Phil Dawson at halftime tried five kicks between 30 and 40 yards at that end and didn’t make any of them. … The way the wind was blowing, the way the footing was, it was a tough place to kick the ball. Not an excuse, just the reality. But he knows. Billy will always tell you he’s got to make every kick.”